Los Angeles is ready for a cat cafe. It was clear two years ago when the temporary Catfe pop-up in Chinatown was mobbed for the entirety of its four-day lifespan that the city’s feline faithful would line up for a space that allowed them to engage in heavy petting while they sipped delicious brews. After all, LA already has a doggo cafe, where patrons can swing through to pick up coffee cups or rescue pups. Now, Crumbs & Whiskers on Melrose Avenue allows for cat lovers to do the same.
Like their first location in Washington DC, the LA Crumbs partners with a local shelter—in this case Karma Rescue—to provide in-need cats a temporary home in between when they’re rescued and adopted. The cats chosen for the cafe are sociable and do well with people. On my visit, I could see that the cats were comfortable and very happy while they played with toys and bounced off the cat-friendly furniture.
Setting up a trip to Crumbs is simple but requires a bit of advanced planning. You make a reservation online and pay a fee of $22 per person, which buys a whole 75 minutes of cat time—during which you can play with, take photos of, pet, or even talk to any of the cats that strike your fancy. Spaces are booked pretty fast, especially on weekends. When you arrive, you can purchase drinks from a menu of espresso beverages, iced coffee, and teas—proceeds from drink sales go toward taking care of the cats. In LA, Crumbs is partnered with Open Space just a few blocks away—orders are made there and delivered.
Crumbs is set up in a way that encourages interaction—a little nook with soft, fluffy pillows encourages floor-sitting and cat and human mingling. At any given time, there are about 15–20 cats roaming about. While some may be resting or sleeping, an ample selection of toys ensures general energetic cuddliness.
If you happen to fall in love with a cat on your visit to Crumbs, you can adopt it through Karma Rescue. So far, there have already been 26 adoptions in LA, and 182 total including those at the DC location. Whichever side of the country you’re on, a new family member is just a cafe trip away.
Tatiana Ernst, who lives in Los Angeles, is a staff writer for Sprudge. Read more Tatiana Ernst in Sprudge.
